The effects of exercise modality on the incidence of plateau at V·O2max.

MedLine Citation:

PMID:
22856347
Owner:
NLM
Status:
In-Data-Review

Abstract/OtherAbstract:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exercise modality on the incidence of plateau at V·O2max. Twelve recreationally active men (age, 21·7 ± 2·3 year; mass, 74·8 ± 6·5 kg; height, 177·6 ± 5·6 cm) completed four incremental tests to volitional exhaustion, of which two were completed on a treadmill (TRE) and two were completed using a cycle ergometer (CYC). The work rate employed for CYC was 1 W·2 s(-1) from an initial loading of 100 W with cadence being maintained at 60 rpm. For TRE, the workload (gradient) increased at a rate of 0·5% · 30 s(-1) while maintaining a constant running speed of 10 kph. Throughout all the trials, V·O2 was determined on a breath-by-breath basis using a precalibrated metabolic cart. The criteria adopted for determination of a plateau was a Δ V·O2 over the final two consecutive 30-s sampling periods of ≤50 ml · min(-1) . Averaging across the two trials per each exercise modality showed a significant difference for plateau incidence between CYC (8%) and TRE (58%) (P = 0·017). This was aligned with a significant difference in the slope of the regression line during the final 60 s of the V·O2max test, CYC (99·9 ± 49·7 ml · min(-1) ) and TRE (49·6 ± 42·6 ml · min(-1) ) (P = 0·017). Repeat measures ANOVA of these data suggests that plateau incidence rates at V·O2max differ between treadmill- and cycle ergometry-based exercises. Future studies need to address whether these response rates are replicated in well-trained athletes.